Meet Me in OTR

                         

Hello, Cincinnati Massive! Wow, It's been like five months since my most recent post! Still recovering from a knee injury, but day by day, I'm getting stronger and more confident! The wet weather and slight pain did not stop me from stepping out on faith today, so I couldn't think of a better way to spend today than to take the Meet Me in OTR Tour. In collaboration with the Friends of Music Hall-of which I am a board member-and Cincinnati Food Tours, the three hour experience covered Music Hall, Washington Park, lunch at Sacred Beast, a streetcar trip, and Findlay Market.

This one of a kind experience kicked off with the hour long Music Hall Outdoor Building Tour, led by Friends of Music Hall Program Guide Susan Lett.  Opened in 1878, Music Hall is composed of three buildings: the center building, the North building, and South building.

Music Hall was designed by Hannaford and Sons in the High Victorian Gothic style. Samuel Hannaford also designed next door neighbor Memorial Hall and Cincinnati City Hall, among others buildings.

The center building contains Springer Auditorium, named after Reuben Springer, a major contributor to the construction of Music Hall. Introduced to the arts by his wife Jane Kilgour, Springer believed that Cincinnati should have a permanent public space for music, cultural events, expositions, and more. Supporters wanted to name the building Springer Hall, but being the humble human being that he was, Springer decided against it, and therefore, it was named Music Hall instead. Music Hall underwent its most recent renovations in 2016 and reopened in the autumn of 2017. 

Center Building, featuring Springer Auditorium

North Building, once used as a Mechanics Hall, Exposition Hall, and sports arena

South Building, once housed the Greystone Ballroom for African Americans and the Topper Ballroom for whites The flower motif above the box office entrance indicates that this was also used as Horticultural/Art Hall.

Following the Outdoor Building Tour, the group headed to Washington Park where Cincinnati Food Tours owner Barb Cooper told of the history of Washington Park. Founded in 1861, the park was originally used as a cemetery for impoverished citizens. Back then, there were complaints of vapors coming from the cemetery, causing major health issues. As a result, the City transferred the remains north to and reinterred in Spring Grove Cemetery. About twenty years ago, citizens were afraid to lay down their roots, let alone open a business, in Over the Rhine due to the presence of homeless people and profound drug activity. National publications then named Over the Rhine as the most dangerous neighborhood in the United States. In 2011, things began to turn around for the better with the renovation of Washington Park. The park reopened in July 2012 for the World Choir Games, with Friendship Concert Performance from a Gifu, Japan (one of Cincinnati's nine sister cities) choir.

Italianate architecture. This architecture originated in 1802 in Great Britain by John Nash. Over the Rhine has about 900 such buildings, making it the largest intact historic district in United States. Typically, these buildings are two to three stories high, low pitched roofs, and overhanging eaves. 

Next, it was off to the Sacred Beast for lunch. Owners Jeremy and Bridget Lieb met at the Maisonette (now Boca) and had lived in Atlanta and New York for years. They had their children, Hanna and Noah, and ultimately moved back to Cincinnati to be near family. Jeremy had worked form Boca, and he decided to open a place of his own. In this pandemic, Sacred Beast has stood the test. 

Sacred Beast is a modern diner/bar where there is "Simple Food, Taken Seriously".  

Double Burger with Cheese, Fries, Dijonnaise, and Passsionfruit Tea-gotta come back for brunch!

Finally, the group took a 25 minute trek on the Cincinnati Bell Connector to Findlay Market. Constructed in 1852, Findlay Market is the oldest continuously operating public market in Ohio.-the only one of nine original public markets! James Findlay was an entrepreneur, congressman, Cincinnati mayor, and a general in the War of 1812. He and wife Jane wanted to open a public market. Sadly, neither James nor Jane lived to see it become reality as they both passed away before the market was constructed. The Findlays bequeathed a piece of land to the City, on the condition that it be used as a public market. Construction began in 1852, but due to contract disputes at the time, the market did not officially open until 1855.

Inside the Market House, Findlay Market houses about 40 regular merchants with about 30 more stationed around the perimeter during warm months.

Market Carpet

    Designed by David Day, the Market Carpet was designed in honor of the market's 150th        anniversary, using mosaic tiles imported from Briare, France.

Findlay Kitchen

Findlay Kitchen is a food incubator. With access to commercial grade equipment, the kitchen is open to anyone who wants to get a start in the restaurant industry, but about 76% are women, minority, and immigrant owned businesses.

Now, good news and bad news. This tour is only available today and April 24, but Barb would be happy to accommodate this as a private tour going forward.

Until next time, be happy, be safe, be well!